These Sweet Chili Chicken Wings are made with a Thai red sauce that is sweet, sour, and has a small spicy kick. You can bake or air fry these crispy wings and then drizzle them in a gooey, homemade sauce.
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Table of Contents
Why Readers Love This Recipe
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I may never order wings out again. These wings were delicious and made under 30 minutes. Winning!
~Ty
Can you ever have too many wings recipes or too many different flavors of chicken wings? I don't think so. I'm adding these to my series of sticky wings, which may be a point of contention. If you don't like saucy, sticky wings, don't worry! I got you. I have tips in the notes of this post on how you can still lock in the sweet chili flavor without getting hands dirty! Check out the full recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Key Ingredients
- Chicken Wings
- Flour (Optional for breaded wings)
- Sweet Chili Sauce
- Garlic
- Brown Sugar or Sweetener
- Soy Sauce: Provides a salty component that balances the sweetness of the chili sauce, the tanginess of vinegar, and the heat of the spices, ensuring the wings aren't overly sweet
- Sesame Oil: It has a rich, toasted, nutty flavor that adds richness to the wings.
- Rice Wine Vinegar: A key ingredient in many Asian-inspired recipes, including Thai chili chicken wings, because it provides a subtle tanginess that balances the sweetness and heat of the dish.
What Type of Wings to Use
I love to use party wings that are already split as opposed to whole chicken wings. Party wings will cook at a more even and consistent temperature. Feel free to use whole chicken wings if you like.
What Does Sweet Chili Sauce Taste Like?
Sweet chili sauce is sweet, sour, with a small hint of spicy. If you like sweet and sour sauce, imagine that with a spicy kick. I wouldn't categorize it as spicy, but you can taste the difference. I use sweet chili sauce in recipes like my Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp and Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta recipes.
How to Make Sweet Chili Wings
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Pat the chicken dry and place it on a large bowl or plastic bag.
- Add flour, salt, and pepper to taste to the chicken.
- Bake or air fry the wings.
- Heat a saucepan on medium-high heat. Add sweet chili sauce, brown sugar or sweetener, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, and garlic.
- Cook for 3-5 minutes until the mixture is incorporated.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and drizzle the wings in the sweet chili sauce.
How to Make Them Spicy
You can add Sriracha or cayenne pepper to the sauce mixture for additional heat and kick!
How to Substitute Flour
You can use 1-2 tablespoons of baking powder (enough to fully coat the chicken). You can also omit flour completely and make naked chicken wings.
How to Make them Naked Without Breading
You make naked wings by simply omitting the flour. The cook time of the chicken will remain the same. Simply toss the wings in the sauce when finished.
Can You Use Other Types of Chicken?
Absolutely! Chicken tenders, chicken breasts, or chicken thighs will work. Click the links to check out my other recipes for cook time.
How to Reheat the Wings
The best way to reheat wings is in the oven or in the air fryer. I wouldn't microwave them. You can reheat them on 350 degrees until warm.
Freezer Tips
I love to freeze these ahead of time to have on deck for quick and easy meals. Defrost the wings overnight in the fridge. Reheat in the air fryer or in the oven on 350 degrees until warm.
Pair With These Recipes
Ranch Roasted Potatoes
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Air Fryer Green Beans
Air Fryer Asparagus
Dry Rub Wings Recipes
Fryer Chicken Wings
How to Grill Chicken Wings
Crispy Ranch Chicken Wing
Air Fryer Turkey Wings
Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Cajun Chicken Wings
Flavored Wings Recipes
Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
Hot Lemon Pepper Wings
Mango Habanero Chicken Wings
Teriyaki Chicken Wings
Honey Hot Wings
Air Fryer Buffalo Wings
Garlic Parmesan Wings
Honey BBQ Wings
Keto Low Carb Chicken Wings (Maple BBQ)
Traeger Smoked Chicken Wings
Sweet Chili Chicken Wings
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Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings I use drummettes/split wings.
- salt and pepper to taste
- ⅓ - ½ cup all-purpose flour Use enough to fully coat the chicken.
- cooking oil spray I use olive oil.
Sweet Chili Sauce
- ½ cup sweet chili sauce
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar or sweetener
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 3 garlic cloves Minced.
Instructions
Oven and Baking Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Pat the chicken dry and place it on a large bowl or plastic bag.
- Add the flour, salt, and pepper to taste to the chicken. Ensure the chicken is fully coated.
- Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and add the wings. Spritz the chicken wings with cooking oil.
- Bake the wings for 20 minutes and then open and flip the wings. Spritz with cooking oil. Bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the chicken is crisp and cooked through.
- Heat a saucepan on medium-high heat. Add the sweet chili sauce, brown sugar or sweetener, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, and garlic.
- Cook for 3-5 minutes until the mixture is incorporated. Taste the sauce repeatedly to ensure the taste suits your needs. Adjust the ingredients if necessary.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and drizzle the wings in the sweet chili sauce.
Air Fryer Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry and place it on a large bowl or plastic bag.
- Add the flour, salt, and pepper to taste to the chicken. Ensure the chicken is fully coated.
- Place the chicken in the air fryer basket. Spritz the chicken with cooking oil.
- Air fry for 15 minutes on 400 degrees.
- Open the air fryer and flip the chicken. Spritz the chicken with cooking oil. Cook for an additional 5 minutes or until the chicken is crispy and cooked through.
- Heat a saucepan on medium-high heat. Add the sweet chili sauce, brown sugar or sweetener, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, and garlic.
- Cook for 3-5 minutes until the mixture is incorporated. Taste the sauce repeatedly to ensure the taste suits your needs. Adjust the ingredients if necessary.
- Remove the chicken from the air fryer and drizzle the wings in the sweet chili sauce.
Video
Notes
- As written, the recipe results in sticky wings. You can bake the flavor of the sauce into the wings by removing the wings from the oven 5 minutes before they have finished baking or air frying. Coat the wings in the sauce and return them to the oven or air fryer for 5 minutes.
- Macros assume monkfruit sweetener is used. Feel free to use the macros calculator of your choice and the branded ingredients you use in the recipe to calculate your macros.
- You can swap the all-purpose flour for baking powder. You can use 1-2 tablespoons of baking powder (enough to fully coat the chicken). You can also omit flour completely and make naked chicken wings.
- You can use actual wings (instead of drums and flats) if you wish, you may need to adjust the number of ingredients needed to fully coat your wings.
- Salt is key for adding additional flavor to the wings. I typically use ¼ – ½ teaspoon for this recipe. I generally allow readers to salt to taste and their preference, considering what their diet allows. Keep in mind, the spices alone will provide flavor, but it needs to be amplified with salt.
- Start with ¼ cup of flour and add additional flour if necessary. The chicken should be fully coated.
- If you see white areas of flour on the wings, spritz the areas with oil.
- Foil can be substituted for parchment paper while baking. Your cook time may change, so keep an eye out on the wings while they bake. They will need to reach a minimum temperature of 165 degrees.
- Want to make them spicy? Add Srirarcha, cayenne pepper or Cajun Seasoning. So good! I typically add 1 to 1 ½ teaspoons.
Nutrition
Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Want to save this recipe for later?
I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get our free digital cookbook with 30-Minute One-Pot Recipes and weekly recipes and tips.
Ty says
I may never order wings out again. These wings were delicious and made under 30 minutes. Winning!
staysnatched says
Yes! Love to hear it!
Erin J. says
Wow! So much flavor in this recipe. I made the Honey Garlic wings first and loved them, but this one blew it away with even more flavor. The sauce is so easy to make and the overall recipe takes no time at all. Definitely one to make for a crowd.
staysnatched says
Yes! So glad you enjoyed the recipe.
K. Phillips says
Wow! I made a half batch just for a little variety next to our usual lemon pepper wings. The kids were licking the bowl. The recipe isn't spicy (unless you make it that way). Don't sleep on this one!
staysnatched says
I'm so glad you enjoyed them.
Eunice says
My husband wanted me to leave a review for this recipe. He doesn’t eat wings often, but he tried these and loved them. Another great recipe!
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I’m so glad he enjoyed them!
Sue says
We tryed these for supper were awesome,did the wings in the air fryer.
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I'm so glad you enjoyed them!
Melissa says
I have been waiting to make this for the longest but my TJs was out of stock on the sweet chili sauce. These were amazing! We usually have a few wings leftover but not this time. The sauce was so flavorful. I have another 2lb bag of wings in the fridge so it’s back on the menu tomorrow.
staysnatched says
I’m so glad you enjoyed them.
Deb says
These were soooo good! Used 1 tsp Sriracha and they were just right. Only thing I might do differently is drizzle with sauce and then back in the oven for 5 min rather than just tossing in sauce. This recipe is a keeper for sure!
staysnatched says
I'm glad you enjoyed them! The notes to the recipe tell you to do this if it's what you prefer.
Becky says
Amazing!! Such a simple recipe with huge flavor. I did add a little sriracha and that put the sauce over the top! I also used my air fryer and did my wings an additional 3 minutes after saucing, they were fresh wings we cut up and a couple weren’t up to temperature after 15 minutes. Best wings I’ve ever done, Thanks so much!
staysnatched says
Awesome! I'm glad you enjoyed them.
Robin says
Chiefs game night wing/ sauce for the win! Thank you!
staysnatched says
Perfect for that!
Ann says
I made these for Super Bowl Sunday. The sauce was perfect, full of flavor. I used the left over sauce on some veggies. Brandi’s recipes never disappoint!
staysnatched says
Awesome!
Lynda says
I've made these several times
They're a home run
I cook mine on the outdoor grill
So delish.... everyone want the recipe
Thanks so much for another perfect recipe
staysnatched says
Yum! You're welcome!
matthewaugusta says
These dishes sound amazing!
Cedar & Sage says
Dang delicious! 🤤
staysnatched says
I'm so glad you enjoyed them!